Marlboro's Ward faces second lawsuit

Already facing one lawsuit, successful Marlboro football coach Rich Ward is now the co-defendant in another lawsuit filed in New York State Supreme Court by a former Highland football player.

JUSTIN RODRIGUEZ

Already facing one lawsuit, successful Marlboro football coach Rich Ward is now the co-defendant in another lawsuit filed in New York State Supreme Court by a former Highland football player.

According to the lawsuit, filed by 2011 Highland graduate Nick Rozzi, Ward "negligently encouraged, advised and/or instructed members of the Marlboro varsity football team" to intentionally injure members of the Highland varsity football team, including Rozzi. The alleged incident occurred Oct. 1, 2010, when Rozzi sustained a serious right leg and knee injury in a game against Marlboro.

Rozzi could not be reached for comment and his attorney, Stephen Coffey of Albany, did not immediately return a phone call Thursday.

The Marlboro school district is named as a co-defendant in the Rozzi suit.

Joe Ryan, Marlboro's special teams coach for four seasons, said he never has heard or seen Ward instruct his players to intentionally injure any opposing players.

"It didn't happen, this is so ridiculous," Ryan said. "It's absolutely not true. Rich is hard-nosed, but he is also compassionate. These allegations are just an attempt to harass him. This is a nuisance harassment lawsuit and Rich Ward will be vindicated."

Earlier this month, Ward was accused of physically and verbally abusing players and making a racist comment about another, in a lawsuit filed by individuals formerly affiliated with the program.

At the time, Ward denied the allegations of the lawsuit filed in a federal district court in Albany by plaintiffs Thomas Corcoran, as well as Al and Kerstin Votta, on behalf of their sons Justin and Ralph, and three other former players — Dylan West, Dominic Santora and Jimmy Farrett. Justin Votta was Marlboro's starting quarterback last season and Ralph played on the team for two years before quitting last month.

Starting this past March, Castellani said earlier this month, the district investigated the allegations against Ward three different times and concluded they were unfounded.

"Football is a physical sport and injuries happen," Marlboro senior quarterback Ryan Cary said. "I've been injured many different times and I don't blame it on anyone. Coach Ward would never have us hurt a player, he respects the game. That's why he has so much support in Marlboro. I feel bad for him because it's a bad deal with all of these accusations."

In the Rozzi lawsuit, it's alleged Ward instructed his players to "take out" Highland players, putting them at an "unreasonably" high risk of injury beyond the normal chances inherent in the game. It goes on to state Rozzi has suffered "serious and permanent personal injuries, conscious pain and suffering, emotional and psychological trauma and substantial damages."